Habir, a dedicated community leader supported by Pertamina EP Tarakan Field’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, has been honored with an award from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) for his efforts in clearing the ocean of plastic bottle waste. His dedication placed him as the third honorable mention in the Local Hero Inspirations Awards, competing with community champions and environmental initiatives from across Indonesia.
The recognition was handed to Habir by KLHK’s Secretary General, Bambang Hendroyono, at an event in Jakarta called the Environmental Control Festival 2024, which took place on a Wednesday, the 24th of April. Habir works closely with the Tarakan Field of Pertamina EP in their Wet Roots Program, aimed at recycling plastic waste for seaweed farmers near Mamolo Beach in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, a leading seaweed-producing region in the country.
Disturbed by the sight of his community surrounded by plastic bottles used as floats and growth mediums for seaweed, Habir was inspired to make a change. “The sight of plastic bottles littered everywhere and the shrinking play area for children in my village pushed me to take action,” Habir shared. He spearheaded a recycling initiative that converts these wastes into higher-quality plastic bottles that can be reused for seaweed cultivation up to six times, a significant improvement from the single-use bottles previously imported for the same purpose.
Cahyo Tri Mulyanto, the Manager of PEP Tarakan Field, shared that the Wet Roots Program started in 2021 as a part of their CSR efforts to address the issue of plastic waste in the community. Habir’s recycling group received crucial equipment support from Pertamina EP Tarakan Field to kickstart their recycling operations.
Habir has also managed to change local attitudes towards plastic bottle disposal. Residents are now motivated to sell their used plastic bottles for recycling, embodying Habir’s motto: “Waste becomes Opportunity, Opportunity becomes Money.” This initiative not only reduces environmental waste but also offers economic benefits to the community, demonstrating a successful model of environmental stewardship and community engagement in Indonesia.
Habir’s village has seen a major decrease in plastic waste, with an impressive 7.5 tons less per year, thanks to the innovative buoys from the Wet Roots Program; 6.8 tons of this reduction is in PET plastic alone. This initiative has not just cleaned up the environment but also boosted Habir’s group’s earnings, now averaging about Rp175 million a year. Moreover, local farmers have saved around Rp358.8 million due to these eco-friendly buoys. However, Habir notes that they only satisfy 30 percent of local demand for plastic buoys and seaweed cultivation mediums. “Expanding this program could significantly fulfil the seaweed farmers’ needs,” he suggested.
On another front, Dony Indrawan, Communication Relations & CID Manager at PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI), shared insights regarding the recent acknowledgment at the KLHK Local Hero Inspirations Awards. He explained that this recognition celebrates PEP Tarakan Field’s efforts in aligning with governmental environmental management and community development initiatives. “Our commitment to TJSL programs is solid, and the success of the Wet Roots Program illustrates our stride toward reaching Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include goals like decent work and economic growth, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, and protecting marine ecosystems,” Indrawan detailed.
PT Pertamina EP (PEP) Tarakan Field falls under Subholding Upstream Regional 3 managed by PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI). They are major players in upstream oil and gas operations, following strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Working together with SKK Migas, PEP Tarakan Field, and PHI’s other units are deeply involved in innovative CSR efforts focusing on economic development, education, health, environmental concerns, infrastructure, and disaster response. These activities are designed to foster sustainable community empowerment and help achieve the SDGs, all coordinated from PHI’s base in Jakarta.
